EPISODE IX: BACK TO THE PAST!

The search by the fearsome Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and his First Order officers to find and destroy the returned Emperor Palpatine begins with a visit to the Sith's old stomping ground of Mustafar, where another savage battle awaits, as well as the discovery of an ancient legacy and a secret planet, in this great conceptual art for The Rise of Skywalker by Andree Wallin.

EPISODE IX: ESCAPING THE FESTIVE SEASON!

Shooting in the famous Wadi Rum region of Morocco, where the mighty Lawrence of Arabia movie was filmed, Rey and the other Resistance heroes prior enjoyment of the Pasaana life ceremonies comes to an end as they partake in a critical escape scene, during filming of The Rise of Skywalker in 2018. 

EPISODE IX: PAST AND PRESENT AS ONE!

With one of the Resistance's only Blockade Runners in the background, hidden at their base on Ajan Kloss, young Rey discovers the truth about Luke Skywalker's investigations into the Dark Side of the Force, in this terrific photo showcasing the great set design from The Rise of Skywalker.  

EPISODE IX: THE LAST JEDI CONFER...

The emotionally troubled Rey's uncertainty as a Jedi in the light of the recent revelations of her parentage, and of her Grandfather, sees a return to the legendary world of Ahch-To, where she is soon helped back on her path to good and light by the spirit of her former mentor, Luke Skywalker, in a nice, and most welcome, moment between the two characters during The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: LANDO LEADS THE CHARGE!

Back with a smooth vengeance against the First Order and the resurrected Empire, the ever cool space hustler Lando Calrissian has no plans to retire anytime soon, especially when proving himself yet again as an effective leader capable of saving the day. A great image of our hero from The Rise of Skywalker - it was great to see Billy Dee Williams back again in the role he was born to play - he'd been absent for far too long in the Sequel Trilogy!

EPISODE IX: THE TIE WHISPER MAKES ITS MARK!

Spanning the galaxy to do Kylo Ren's evildoing as the supreme force of the First Order, the memorable TIE Whisper fighter was a fine addition to the Sequel space craft universe, making its way from the mysterious world of Mustafar to the evil realms pf the Dark Side on Exegol, during the exciting beginning to The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: REUNITED JEDI!

It's a time of darkness and emotional trauma for Rey, having now discovered the truth about her shocking bloodline from Kylo Ren. She looks ready to give it all up on the far off world of Ahch-To. Fortunately, a friend and teacher from the past returns to guide her back on the right path against the oncoming firestorm that is the Dark Side, and the return of Palpatine.

A memorable scene from The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: A FAMILY PURSUED...

Dathan and Miramir - fugitives from the Emperor!

Seemingly abandoned by uncaring parents whom Kylo Ren would later describe to her as filthy junk traders who literally sold her off for drinking money, Rey ultimately discovers the truth about her parentage, and the real reason for her being left behind on the desert world of Jakku, by the time of The Rise of Skywalker. In actuality, her parents were to prove unique in the sequel saga backstory, her father Dathan (Billy Howe) being the fugitive son of Emperor Palpatine himself, whilst her mother Miramir (played by Killing Eve's soon British superstar Jodie Comer) proved herself brave and courageous to the end in protecting her daughter-in-hiding, successfully fooling the Sith Assassin who would ultimately slay Rey's parents...

Miramir (Jodie Comer) cradles her daughter one last time.

EPISODE IX: TRAINING... AND MORE TRAINING!

Since the galactic takeover by the First Order, Rey's skills and latent abilities as a Jedi are needed now more than ever as her training, under the tutelage of former Jedi General Leia Organa, continues within the expansive forests of Ajan Kloss. Making sure that her opponent remotes are not in safe mode, Rey proves confident, yet she is so far unable to contact any of the Jedi who have passed into the nether world of the Force...

A great scene from The Rise of Skywalker filmed in Black Park, Buckinghamshire, nearby to Pinewood Studios, and used in many classic blockbuster films (including previous Star Wars films) and sci-fi/horror TV series.

EPISODE IX: FROM THE STREETS OF KIJIMI!

On the winter night streets of the beleaguered world of Kijimi, the ongoing tyranny of First Order control and their kidnaping of local children to their brutal cause soon sees underground emergent action and retaliation from a brave few whose past histories are less than perfect. One such individual, the helmeted and enigmatic Zorri Bliss, who is soon reunited with a former friend now potential Resistance enemy, from The Rise of Skywalker.

EPISODE IX: RISE OF THE VILLAINS!

Assembled villainy has never been nastier in the sequel trilogy than with the combined forces of the First Order, under the brutal command of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (with assistance from his onscreen underused Knights and the shady General Hux) and the original First Galactic Empire, under the command of Allegiant General Pryde in the name of the resurgent Emperor Palpatine. The galaxy will quake under their terrifying future plans...

EPISODE IX: COMPLETING LEIA'S TRAINING...

Brother and sister Skywalkers match unique fighting moves and cement their powers in the Force, as Leia Organa soon goes on to make a life-changing decision linked to her Jedi destiny, in a terrific and moving flashback moment from The Rise of Skywalker.

Luke And Leia's Lightsaber Fight Flashback In Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Got Trimmed

EPISODE IX: LANDO'S RETURN!

Old pilots are still bold pilots as the legendary Lando Calrissian returns to aid the Resistance in its darkest hours, what with the passing of their beloved General Leia Organa and the resurrection of the Emperor on Exegol.

Why it took so long for Lando - such a charismatic and vital presence in the saga -  to return to the Sequel Trilogy with The Rise of Skywalker, I still don't know....

EPISODE VII: IN OPERATIONAL READINESS...

Keeping an eye on his young fighter comrades' varied missions across the galaxy, and of potential incursions by the dreaded First Order, top pilot Snap Wexley is a busy man and one of General Leia Organa's most popular and talented pilots in the Resistance.

EPISODE IX: BLOWING OFF STEAM!

He may have been captured and restrained by the First Order on Pasaana, but that isn't going to let the mighty Chewbacca let rip against his loathsome enemy General Hux, in this priceless moment from The Rise of Skywalker, though its a shame that our Wookiee hero's painful reuniting with the former Ben Solo on the First Order Star Destroyer was cut. There is, however, a brief moment linked to it within the Michael Kogge-written junior edition film novelisation.

Kylo Ren Tortured Chewbacca in Filmed The Rise of Skywalker Deleted Scene

EPISODE IX: EMPRESS OF EVIL

A shocking vision of alternate destiny and evil, as the head of the Sith powerbase on Exegol, is briefly but memorably revealed to a dark Force powered Rey in a memorable but all too brief moment from The Rise of Skywalker. 

Star Wars: Rey Was Originally Obi-Wan's Daughter

Daisy Ridley enjoys some quality throne time.

EPISODE IX: THOSE OTHER RESISTANCE HEROES!

Hip deep in intense warfare against the Final Order's legion forces on their secret homeworld of Exegol, our diverse supporting Resistance hero stars of The Rise of Skywalker - mechanic/specialist Rose Tico, archaeologist Beaumont Kin, and communications/operations officer Kaydel Ko Connix - show their mettle in a do-or-die mission rounding off the sequel trilogy.

Dominic Monaghan Reflects on 'Star Wars' - Star Wars News Net

THE CINEMATIC RETURN OF REY SKYWALKER...

The torch now passed to Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker.

Finally getting the unique and exciting character showcasing she deserves, the news of Daisy Ridley's return to the saga as Jedi Knight Rey Skywalker, for an all-new cinematic adventure, is most welcome.

SWCE 2023: Three New Star Wars Movies Announced | StarWars.com

Daisy Ridley's Rey: New Star Wars Film Will Focus on Her Story - Variety

Star Wars: Three New Movies Confirmed At Celebration – Including Daisy Ridley’s Return As Rey | Movies | Empire

Daisy Ridley returning as Rey in new Star Wars movie set 15 years after Rise of Skywalker | GamesRadar+

Kathleen Kennedy on 'Star Wars' Future, Daisy Ridley and Taika Waititi - Variety

'JEDI' AT 40: CAVE PREPARATIONS!

A relatively last-minute addition to the film - though it did also manage to find partial inclusion into James Khan's novelisation published May, 1983 - Return of the Jedi's opening in the post production editing phase included a moody scene where Vader reaches out from his meditation chamber (unused footage filmed for The Empire Strikes Back) on the Death Star II to a shrouded Luke Skywalker, now arrived on Tatooine and residing in a small cave, completing the build of his own unique lightsaber. His efforts are keenly watched by Artoo, whilst Threepio waits outside for order from his master. Though a fine sequence, it was ultimately cut. Instead, the filmmakers decided to make Luke look more mysterious and dangerous with his later cloaked arrival into Jabba's palace - ultimately a much better cinematic entrance for the character and more satisfying for the audience keenly awaiting his arrival at that point in the story.

More on the sequence, originally shot with an ILM crewman lookalike, which made its way onto 2011 Blu-ray, and which would have Mark Hamill's face likely (and cleverly) CGI doctored onto the footage:

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: LUKE AND THE LIGHTSABER: RESTORATION OF A JEDI!

November 22nd, 1982 storyboard for the additional scene filmed at ILM without Mark Hamill.

The cave sequence interior was filmed at ILM at the end of 1982, at a time way beyond the original completed principal photography in London, and supervised specifically by the US crew end of the movie with director Richard Marquand and Lucas. Once the studio material was completed, a small crew travelled to Death Valley, Arizona in December, 1982, to capture exterior location photography of Artoo and Threepio outside Luke's cave and then heading on to their unique journey to Jabba's Palace, replacing the original version of their arrival that was to have been done with an alternate matte painting exterior...

Artoo emerges from the cave (with special instructions from Luke) to meet Threepio as they now journey to Jabba's palace on Tatooine.

Lucas helps the small crew as they get ready to film the sequence.

Lucas and Anthony Daniels for the extra scene filming.

Filming the droids as they begin their journey to Jabba's palace.

Deleted scene of the droids looking down into the valley housing Luke's X-wing and the Millennium Falcon.

January 7th, 1983 storyboard for the extra scene, presumably by Joe Johnston.

Anthony Daniels poses with Death Valley park ranger Rick McIntyre in December, 1982.

EPISODE IX: THE MYSTERY MAN OF PASAANA!

Hunted by the First Order's forces of the desert world of Pasaana, it looks like our heroes have finally been cornered, until the arrival of a mysterious helmeted warrior comes to their rescue, soon revealing himself as the legendary Lando Calrissian and bringing important info to Rey on a previous mission he'd undertook on this world with Luke Skywalker - searching for the dangerous Sith Assassin, Ochi of Bestoon!

Lando Calrissian, back in action!

A detailed look at Lando's disguise. Image: Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props Blogspot.

Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie costumes on display... Original film costumes and props on display

Find out more about the missing adventure of Luke and Lando with the newly released paperback version of the acclaimed Shadow of the Sith, written by Adam Christopher, and out now in bulky Arrow paperback.

Original Aficionado article on hardback:

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: OUT THIS WEEK: 'SHADOW OF THE SITH'

Get the paperback here:

Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith: Amazon.co.uk: Christopher, Adam: 9781529150070: Books